Just then, a humming melody drifted out of an open window, blending with the night breeze and growing faint, sounding as if it came from far away.
Waldenburg paused in his tracks and walked toward the sound.
The person did not notice him.
“La la, la... la...”
Liliana was sitting on a clean white bench, swinging her calves slightly as she hummed a cheerful folk song widely known in the southern towns of the Kingdom of Barton.
Tonight, she wore an impossibly exquisite gown, which the student council's usually amiable Secretary, Meretskov, had specially prepared for her.
The skirt cascaded in layers. Under the glow of the lanterns, the water-blue tulle shimmered with the luster of a clear, flowing stream, and the silver ribbon accents on the pleats swayed gently with her humming, making her look like a pure elf from the forest who had accidentally stumbled into the mortal world.
On the flat green lawn in front of her.
Fiona and Sarah, showing absolutely none of the airs of noble young ladies, were holding hands and dancing a comical, light-footed dance to the beat of Liliana's humming.
“Fiona! You stepped on my hem!” Sarah cried out, hopping backward as she lifted her pink silk gown.
“I did not! This is the most authentic 'Harvest Festival Step'!” Fiona stuck out her tongue playfully and spun gracefully. “You're just too stiff, Sarah, always thinking of those rigid rules from court etiquette class.”
“There are no professors staring at us from behind tonight!”
“La~ la la...” Liliana continued to sing for them, her voice sweet and beautiful.
But this invited some playful mischief.
“By the way, our Liliana is the real star tonight. Just look at this beautiful dress!”
Fiona nudged closer to Liliana and reached out to gently pinch her reddening cheeks. “Hurry up and confess! Why didn't you wear the one we gave you? Where did this gown come from?!”
Liliana's singing came to an abrupt halt, and she began to awkwardly fiddle with the hem of her dress, replying sheepishly,
“Secretary Meretskov was just... he saw that I didn't have a suitable gown and kindly offered to help...”
“Oh my, she's blushing, Sarah! Look, look!”
“Alright, Fiona, give it a rest. Look at Liliana, her face is about to turn into a red apple.”
Sarah coaxed. At the same time, she stepped forward and took Liliana's hand. “But Liliana, you really are beautiful today. Put your chin up and be confident.”
Fiona didn't forget about food. “Let's go eat those strawberry mille-feuilles piled up like a little mountain over there later!”
The three of them shared a joyful laugh.
“...” Watching the three girls' friendship from afar, Waldenburg felt a strange sense of cloying sweetness.
He turned and walked back to the ballroom.
The back door closed behind him, shutting out the laughter on the lawn and the night breeze.
Before long, a commotion broke out by the front portico.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here!”
Like a pebble tossed into a calm lake, the words rippled rapidly into every corner. The people in the hall stopped their conversations one after another and looked toward the entrance.
Leonhart von Edelstein made his entrance.
Tonight, he wore a white suit jacket over a light blue shirt, with a silver-gray tie knotted at his collar. His golden hair almost shimmered under the lights, and his icy-blue eyes swept calmly over the crowd, his lips curved into his trademark warm, polite smile.
He turned and reached his hand into the carriage.
A white-gloved hand placed itself onto his palm.
Loris von Aldheim stepped out of the carriage.
Her gown was a deep blue—a deep blue that bordered on the night sky, its hem embroidered with silver star patterns that shimmered like a flowing river of stars under the lights. Delicate lace lined the collar and cuffs, and a silver-white satin ribbon was tied around her waist, forming an elegant bow behind her.
Her pale gold hair was swept into an updo, with a few stray strands hanging beside her ears, revealing her pale, slender neck.
Two small pearls adorned her earlobes, casting a soft gleam under the lights.
As she stepped down from the carriage, her skirt spread across the steps like deep blue ripples.
A low wave of gasps erupted from the surroundings.
Loris's expression was incredibly calm—the corners of her lips were slightly raised, her gaze holding three parts arrogance, three parts reserve, three parts composure, and one part of just the right amount of indifference.
This was an expression she had practiced countless times, the very look expected of the eldest daughter of the Aldheim family.
Leonhart turned slightly, letting her walk half a step behind him by his side.
Together, they ascended the steps, passed through the portico, and stepped into the grand hall.
The bustling crowd automatically parted to make a path.
Waldenburg stood just inside the doors with his hand resting on his scabbard. His gaze swept over Leonhart before settling on Loris.
As Loris walked past him, her eyes flicked to him, seemingly giving him a secret signal.
This was a grand occasion, after all.
If they were caught by someone looking for trouble...
Waldenburg ignored it, withdrawing his gaze and continuing to scan the hall.
In the hall, an attendant struck a bronze gong hanging on the wall.
“Gong— Gong— Gong—”
Three times, loud and resounding, echoing through the entire hall.
Everyone stopped talking, their gazes shifting to the balcony above the staircase.
Leonhart stood on the balcony with his hands resting on the balustrade, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.
The lights illuminated him, his golden hair and white suit jacket standing out sharply against the darker background.
“Everyone,” he began, his voice not loud, but every word came through clearly, carrying across the entire hall.
“Welcome to this year's Summer Ball.”
Polite and enthusiastic applause resounded through the hall.
“Tonight is a tradition of the Royal Knight and Magic Academy, and it is also the first time our freshmen are formally participating in a social event.” His tone was gentle yet commanding. “Here, you do not need to worry about your family's stances, nor do you need to consider political entanglements. Tonight, you only need to do one thing—”
“Enjoy it to your heart's content.”
As his voice faded, thunderous applause erupted. Right on cue, the royal orchestra on the second floor began to play, and the sweeping notes of the music drifted through the ballroom.
Rate on N.U.
